By Francis Ontomwa,

This weekend is the mother of all weekends at least as far as football is concerned. It is a weekend that promises lots of football action from all quarters. And while the much awaited African Cup of Nations finals pitting Zambia and Ivory Coast may indicate to steal a thunder, the kick off of the Kenya Premier League (KPL) will have its equal share of glare for lovers of football in Kenya. Football analysts describe this year’s premiership as one of its kind considering how participants have been sprucing up their sides ahead of the hurly burly.

Three matches have been lined up on Saturday, two in the capital city and one in Western region as follows.

Saturday 11 February 2012

Tusker v City Stars Nyayo 14:00

Muhoroni Youth v Western Stima Muhoroni 15:00

AFC Leopards v Chemelil Sugar Nyayo 16:00

Tusker will be looking to send an early message that their kingship last season was not a fluke. Although troubled by a string of injuries they are raring and ready to go! Head coach Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo has already made it clear that the team is out to strongly defend the title by all means.

Rookies, Muhoroni Youth will host Western Stima of Kakamega in Muhoroni for their first ever test of KPL. Muhoroni’s head coach Alfred Imonje previously coached Stima but according to him, this doesn’t give him any backing.

“Much has gone down the drain since I was at the club and right now I just wasn’t to focus on winning without banking hopes on anything” he said in an interview.

Coach Henry Omino has also been quick to answer his counterpart, he said: “I have so much respect for Muhoroni but certainly we are not going to let them spoil our first trip for glory”

Stima have since bought seven new players and the veteran tactician will be spoilt for choice in virtually all departments except between the posts where long serving goalkeeper David Juma still retains the number one role.

Another match likely to cause much ripples is one that will involve last season’s fifth place finishers AFC Leopards and Chemelil Sugar FC one that has been dubbed ‘The Battle for Sugar Supremacy’. Leopards go on record as one of the clubs that has made the largest spending on player acquisitions during the just ended transfer window. The club spent a record KES 450, 000 to woo national soccer team player Erick Masika from Gor Mahia FC, other big names that have joined the club include Allan Wanga and former Karuturi Sports star Amon Muchiri. It will be an interesting scenario to see if the spending will culminate to good performance as they take on their first test with Chemelil FC on Saturday.

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